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Worldwide, approximately 10 million people are diagnosed with cancer annually and more than 6 million die of the disease every year. Currently, there are over 22 million cancer patients worldwide.
All communities are burdened with cancer, but there are marked regional differences. The total cancer burden is highest in affluent societies, mainly due to a high incidence of tumors associated with smoking and Western lifestyle, i.e. tumors of the lung, colorectum, breast, and prostate.
In developing countries, up to 25% of tumors are associated with chronic infections, e.g. hepatitis B virus (liver cancer), human papillomaviruses (cervical cancer), and Heliobacter pylori (stomach cancer).
Differences in the regional distribution of cancer and its outcome, as documented by a worldwide network of population-based cancer registries, help to identify causative factors and those influencing survival.
In some Western countries, cancer mortality rates have recently started to decline, due to a reduction in smoking prevalence, improved early detection, and advances in cancer therapy.
IARC cancer epidemiology databases, including GLOBOCAN 2000 and the WHO Cancer Mortality Database: http://www-dep.iarc.fr/
ICD9 classification of disease: http://www.cdc/nchs/about/otheract/abticd9.htm
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